Eco-friendly and protective natural dye from red prickly pear (Opuntia Lasiacantha Pfeiffer) plant

New natural dye extracted from red prickly pear was used for dyeing wool with different types of mordents. The effect of mordant concentration on the color strength was discussed; the results obtained indicated that the color strength decreases with the increase of mordant concentration. The effect of the dye bath pH, salt concentration, dyeing temperature and dyeing time was also studied. The color strength and the dye uptake have exhibited high values. Good fastness properties of the dyed fabric were achieved.Antimicrobial activity of wool fabric dyed with this dye was tested according to diffusion agent. Test organisms as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subitilus, Pseudomons aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were used and the results indicated that the samples exhibited a high inhibition zone.According to the available literature, this is the first report concerning a natural dye for fabric from fruits of red prickly pear plants.